Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Comments before the Council

I
am here to address Item 12C: budgetary adjustments and appropriations
to finalize the FY2013 budget.

Mr.
Chair, these budget transfers before you this evening assume a $2.5
million cut to Worcester's local aid.

This
afternoon, Governor Patrick announced a $9 million cut, in total,
statewide.

We
know, I think, that the Legislature will not be cutting 27% of that
$9 million from Worcester.

As
such, the projections on which these transfers are based are now
known to be incorrect. You have a chance still before you to correct
these transfers based on actual—rather than projected—numbers.

Further,
Mr. Chair, your budgetary memo backing up this item is incorrect with
regard to the City's contribution to the Worcester Public Schools for
FY13, as clarified in yesterday's memo from Superintendent Boone to
the Worcester School Committee. I forwarded that memo to you
electronically last night, and it is before you on your desks this
evening.

Simply
put, Mr. Chair, the number you were given ignores both Massachusetts
General Laws chapter 70, section 6, which delineates what may and may
not be included within the calculations of the community contribution
to education funding, as well as ignores 603 CMR 10.0, section 6,
which requires that funding not met in one fiscal year must be met in
the subsequent fiscal year. As we were in deficit by $1,500,195 for
FY12, that is carried forward. As it stands, we are in deficit for
FY13 by $945,650.

I
understand that the administration is disappointed that
transportation is specifically excluded from calculations of local
contribution by MGL Ch. 70, section 6. It remains the case, however,
that the $546,000 increase in special education busing is required
under those student's ed plans. We have a legal obligation to fulfill
the terms of IEPs. The remainder of our transportation increase—a
contractual one with Durham Bus Company—meet our legal obligations
for transportation for public, parochial, and charter students,
allows us to run our magnet programs, and of course transports
students citywide to Worcester Technical High School.

I
present this tonight, Mr. Chair, not from any ingratitute or wish for
antipathy between our two bodies. On the contrary, I am impressed at
the attention to the charter school funding gap, and I appreciate the
suggested transfer on that count. I have found yourself and your
colleagues on this Council attentive and sympathic to the needs of
the schools. As such, I could stand by while your proceeded with an
action you believed would more than meet your legal obligations to
our students when it will not.

...when,
in fact, it will leave you $417,123 legally in arrears.

And
it is the case, Mr. Chair, that this is not something we “desire”
to do, that this is not something we “would like” to do—it is
something we are legally required to do.

It
is, in fact, a bill to be paid, a legal obligation to be met.

It
is one that impacts quite directly the stability of our community and
its ability to grow.

I
ask, therefore, tonight, Mr. Chair, that you and this Council to hold
this item and those associated with it for a week. I ask that you
request the administration to return with budgetary adjustments and
appropriations that reflect the real, not projected, 9c cuts, as well
as the real legal funding obligations this community has to the
children of the Worcester Public Schools.

No comments:

A note

What is posted on who-cester is my work and my views; what is posted here does not necessarily represent the views of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (for whom I work as a field director). You'll need to look at masc.org for that.

The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Chapter V, Section II.

Wisdom, and knowledge, as well as virtue, diffused generally among the body of the people, being necessary for the preservation of their rights and liberties; and as these depend on spreading the opportunities and advantages of education in the various parts of the country, and among the different orders of the people, it shall be the duty of legislatures and magistrates, in all future periods of this commonwealth, to cherish the interests of literature and the sciences, and all seminaries of them; especially the university at Cambridge, public schools and grammar schools in the towns; to encourage private societies and public institutions, rewards and immunities, for the promotion of agriculture, arts, sciences, commerce, trades, manufactures, and a natural history of the country; to countenance and inculcate the principles of humanity and general benevolence, public and private charity, industry and frugality, honesty and punctuality in their dealings; sincerity, good humor, and all social affections, and generous sentiments among the people.(John Adams, 1779)